Take your Pick!

[Dick Glasgow]

OK So which one would YOU choose?

[ceadach]

Hey ther Ptar,
WOW~!
Whose shop might this be? (insert drooling here... ;D) I'm trying to figure out who the maker of these beauties is?
Chad

[ceadach]

No..wait... don't tell me... Jerry Read Smith???

While I confess, I don't have any desire for an instrument quite the size of his five octave magnum opus, his workmanship is beyond reproach. Heard one of his smaller creations (3 1/2 octaves) at a festival here in town, and was stunned by the sheer volume of his instrument and the virtuoso woodworking.

So to answer your original question Ptar, how about one of those two near the top of the rack perhaps???
Chad

[Dick Glasgow]

a five octave magnum opus

Chad, I must admit, I certainly have no desire to take something that size into my local session!

Fact is, I only play a 12/12 but even then, & am seriously looking at down-sizing to a traveller for sessions!

I wonder too, is it just possible that some unsympathetic H-D players have taken up half the available space in pub sessions, & no doubt therafter been responsible for producing at least half the volume of noise, by foistering such huge monsters onto a small, friendly session?

It could be why incidents like this occur, now: Problem with Dulcimers at Sessions - thread

Cheers
Dick

[dulcimike]

Aye, it's a full 5 octaves, but it comes with removable dampers, so one can lessen the sound output - too bad they're so big - never fit into Tom's - could you even get one in the door?

I've been thinking of downsizing for the trip over next year, but can't figure out how to do it and still have the equivalent of a 15/14 - the one I bring is about that size anyway, and a 12/11 is just no good for playing in A.

[ceadach]

<<I've been thinking of downsizing for the trip over next year, but can't figure out how to do it and still have the equivalent of a 15/14 - the one I bring is about that size anyway, and a 12/11 is just no good for playing in A.>>

Indeed Dulcimike! As much I've enjoyed playing my little 13/12 and only having to tune relative few strings, I run up against its limitations constantly. Having a high G# makes A tunes more approachable but there are a bunch of A tunes, and also B minor, E minor and even many tunes in D where it's just so helpful (or would be)to have those few last courses there, just to have a chance at workable hammering options. That extra E and F# are on the left side are more valuble than one might think at first. Having those bass notes is very handy to0 and that bottom D provides a nice "drone" to many tunes. I'm moving to a larger instrument as soon I can manage.

I have see one maker produce a 14/13, lacking the last treble course in the bottom, keeping Low in the bass, and the highest bass note in the top. It's a decent idea, but I'd just as soon have the D#/G# down there!
Chad

[gypsy]

Number 5, if i am just choosing for sexy. WOW do they play as pretty as they look? on second thought, just run the forklift over to my place, i'll take GOOD care of them for you!